"The European Union expresses its sincere sympathy to the families and friends of the victims of the crimes. At the same time, the EU is unequivocally opposed to use of the death penalty in any circumstance. The death penalty does not serve as a deterrent to crime and any errors become irreversible. This strong position was reiterated to the Belarusian authorities at the 6th meeting of the EU-Belarus Coordination Group on 12-13 December in Brussels. We expect the remaining death sentences in Belarus to be commuted and a moratorium on the death penalty introduced as a first step towards its abolition."

On 21 December 2018, the Council prolonged the economic sanctions targeting specific sectors of the Russian economy until 31 July 2019, failing implementation of the Minsk Agreements. Find the Council statement here.

The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, met today in the margins of the 25th OSCE Ministerial Council with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine, Pavlo Klimkin.

This morning, EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, hosted the acting Foreign Minister of Armenia, Zohrab Mnatsakanyan, in Brussels.

The Spokesperson recalled that according to the preliminary conclusions of the OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission, the elections were "competitive and professionally administered", giving Georgian voters a genuine voice.

The sudden deterioration of the situation in Sri Lanka over the weekend puts the country at risk of instability and unrest, the EEAS Spokesperson said. The EU expects Sri Lanka to pursue its positive path towards reconciliation and democracy for the full benefit of the Sri Lankan people.

Earlier today, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the European Commission Federica Mogherini spoke to the Brussels press on the topic of the newly adopted Communication "Connecting Europe and Asia".

On 19 September 2018 the High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini made a public statement on the outcome of the third inter-Korean Summit.

She argued that peaceful diplomatic efforts are the only way forward on the Korean peninsula. She reiterated that the European Union is ready to support efforts towards the complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula in every way that it can.

Federica Mogherini, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, met today in Brussels with the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bangladesh, Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali.

Statement by the Spokesperson on the signing of the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement between the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar and the New Mon State Party and the Lahu Democratic Union

We would like to warmly congratulate you on winning this Sunday's general elections. Your reconfirmation as Prime Minister gives you a strong mandate to accelerate an ambitious reform agenda and will allow us to further deepen the close personal relationship that we have developed.

The DPRK's latest nuclear test gravely violates DPRK's obligations under international law, repeated demands from the UN Security Council and the global non-proliferation and disarmament regime. It compels the international community to unite in swift and decisive reaction.

"We, Europeans, care about your countries, your people: we have an interest in the security and development of your countries, because these are essential to security and development all over the world"

The 12th EU-Thailand Senior Officials' Meeting (SOM) took place at the European External Action Service in Brussels on 9 June 2017. The EU side was chaired by Mr Gunnar Wiegand, Managing Director, Asia and the Pacific, European External Action Service.

The European Union has a long-term partnership with Afghanistan. In close coordination with Afghanistan's international partners, the European Union is engaged with the Afghan Government to fight corruption, improve oversight, enable economic growth, reduce poverty and strengthen democratic institutions.

The European Commission published today nine initial European proposals for the trade agreement under negotiation with Indonesia. Together with the proposals, the Commission has made available the report from the second round of talks that took place in Indonesia between 24 and 27 January.

On 20 December 2016 in Brussels, the European Union and Bangladesh held theirbiennial meeting of the Sub-group on Good Governance and Human Rights in the framework of the EU-Bangladesh Cooperation Agreement (CA).

The 3rd Session of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue was held in Brussels on 4 October 2016 between the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, and Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Foreign Affairs.

Federica Mogherini, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, met the Foreign Minister of the Republic of Korea, Yun Byung-se, yesterday in the margins of the Brussels Conference on Afghanistan.

The 3rd Session of the EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue was held in Brussels on 4 October 2016 between the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, Federica Mogherini, and Sartaj Aziz, Advisor to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Foreign Affairs.

Federica Mogherini, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, met on Sunday with the Foreign Minister of the People's Republic of China Wang Yi on the margins of the United Nations' General Assembly Ministerial Week in New York.

Earlier today, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) carried out yet another nuclear test. This is another direct violation of the DPRK's international obligations not to produce or test nuclear weapons, as determined by multiple United Nations Security Council Resolutions, and a grave threat to peace and security of the entire region and beyond.

The July report of the ADB suggests that growth in Asia will only be marginally affected by Brexit. The Bank expects growth in 2016 to be 5.6% in 2016—0.1 percentage points less than earlier forecast—and 5.7% in 2017.

Earlier today, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) launched three ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan. This is another clear and grave violation of the DPRK’s international obligations, as set out in UN Security Council Resolutions.

The 20th meeting of the European Union (EU) - Sri Lanka Joint Commission took place in Brussels on 19 July 2016. The meeting was co-chaired by Mrs Chitranganee Wagiswara, Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka, and Mr Gunnar Wiegand, Managing Director for Asia and the Pacific at the European External Action Service.

EU Trade Commissioner Cecilia Malmström and Indonesian Minister of Trade Tom Lembong today agreed to officially launch the negotiations for a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between the EU and Indonesia with the aim to deepen and strengthen a key aspect of the bilateral relationship.

The 11th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM11) was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia on 15­16 July 2016 under the theme “20 Years of ASEM: Partnership for the Future through Connectivity”. It was attended by the Heads of State and Government or their high-level representatives of 51 European and Asian countries, the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the Secretary-General of ASEAN. The Summit meeting was hosted and chaired by President of Mongolia Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj.

We, Heads of State and Government from ASEM partner countries, the President of the European Council, the President of the European Commission and the Secretary-General of ASEAN gathered in Ulaanbaatar on 15-16 July 2016 for the 11th ASEM Summit to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of ASEM under the theme of “20 Years of ASEM: Partnership for the Future through Connectivity” and to chart the future course of ASEM into its third decade.

High Representative Federica Mogherini travelled yesterday to Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar for the 11th Asia-Europe meeting (ASEM). The meeting started in a day of grief and mourning for the deadly attack in Nice.

The European Union and its Member States, as contracting parties to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), acknowledge the Award rendered by the Arbitral Tribunal, being committed to maintaining a legal order of the seas and oceans based upon the principles of international law, UNCLOS, and to the peaceful settlement of disputes.

We, the Heads of State and of Government of Asia and Europe, the President of the European Council, President of the European Commission, and the Secretary General of ASEAN, meeting in Ulaanbaatar on 15-16 July 2016, reiterated our strong unequivocal condemnation of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations committed by whomever, wherever and for whatever purposes.

Thank you very much, Professor. It really is an honour for me to be here. If I can share with you a personal note: I also envy all of you a little bit because actually academic work has always been my passion. Having said that, it is indeed true that this is the first occasion I have had to present the Global Strategy after the presentation to the European Council – so to the European Union Heads of State and Government – at the end of June.

High Representative Federica Mogherini this week travelled to Beijing to participate in the 18th EU-China Summit.

The Summit came just a few weeks after the High Representative and European Commission adopted a Joint Communication on elements for a new EU strategy on China, and enabled discussions at the highest level on issues related to bilateral EU-China political and economic relations, addressing global challenges, and regional and international issues. Leaders are expected to adopt a Joint Summit Statement at the end of the meeting.

The sixth session of the EU-Indonesia Human Rights Dialogue was held on 28 June 2016 in Brussels. The Delegation from the Republic of Indonesia was led by Mr Dicky Komar, Director for Human Rights and Humanitarian Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs while the Delegation of the European Union was headed by Mr Julian Wilson, Acting Director for Asia-Pacific, and Mrs Anette Mandler, Head of the Human Rights Division in the European External Action Service.

The High Representative/Vice-President, Federica Mogherini, spoke this morning with the Foreign Minister of Japan, Fumio Kishida to discuss the outcome of the UK referendum, the EU Global Strategy and EU-Japan bilateral relations.

For the third time, senior officials from the European Union and the Republic of Korea (RoK) met today to discuss a broad range of cyber issues. The delegation of the Republic of Korea was led by H.E. Shin Maeng-Ho, Ambassador for International Security Affairs in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Joëlle Jenny, Director for Security Policy and Conflict Prevention at the European External Action Service welcomed them to Brussels as head of the EU delegation, which also included representatives from the Commission and Member States.

Thank you very much. Mr State Councillor, you hosted in Beijing last year the previous session of our strategic dialogue, which was extremely fruitful and positive. I am honoured and pleased to host you this year in Brussels for this session of the Strategic Dialogue that prepares the upcoming Summit between the EU and China, which will take place in Beijing, mid- next month.

The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commission have today adopted a Joint Communication that sets out a vision for ambitious and forward-looking EU engagement with Myanmar as the country's transition enters its next phase.

On 27 May 2016, the Council adopted additional restrictive measures against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). These measures complement and reinforce the sanctions regime imposed by United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, European Council President Donald Tusk, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, French President François Hollande, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and UK Prime Minister David Cameron, made the following joint statement in the margins of the G7 Summit in Ise-Shima:

The fifth EU-Pakistan Political Counter-Terrorism Dialogue was held on 20 April 2016 in Brussels under the framework of the EU-Pakistan Five-Year Engagement Plan. Both sides strongly condemned the recent terrorist attacks in Brussels, Lahore and many parts of the world and reaffirmed their determination to jointly combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

The chief negotiators of the European Union and Malaysia initialled today the text of the EU-Malaysia Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) at a ceremony held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia in Putrajaya. The initialling marks the successful closure of negotiations that started in October 2010.

The EU is committed to maintaining a legal order for the seas and oceans based upon the principles of international law, as reflected notably in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). This includes the maintenance of maritime safety, security, and cooperation, freedom of navigation and overflight.

The unanimous adoption by the UN Security Council of Resolution 2270 (2016) is a clear expression of the unity and resolve of the international community to uphold the global non-proliferation regime and to target DPRK's illegal nuclear, WMD and ballistic missile programmes and its ability to finance them.

China did not feature prominently at this year’s MSC. But the participation of Fu Ying, Chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National People’s Congress, in a panel discussion moderated by MERICS director Sebastian Heilmann made clear: China is willing to get involved, albeit hesitantly and according to its own rules.

The EU and Vietnam held on 15 December 2015 in Hanoi the fifth round of their annual enhanced Dialogue on Human Rights in the spirit of the EU-Vietnam Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) signed in 2012.